One Day At A Time: a devotion by Ann Broughton

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34 NIV).

Are you worrying about what will happen tomorrow or in the future? Is something weighing down your heart so much that it is difficult to find joy in living? Life can bring many trials, sickness, pain, and sorrow, but Jesus knew you would have trials and provided words of encouragement in the Bible to help you make it through those times of doubt and worry. When I feel overwhelmed by life’s troubles, I pray that God will help me to see that this is just a small part of the big picture of my life, and I trust Him that good can come out of each trial that comes my way. Because of my trials, my faith has grown tremendously. I have felt peace in times of great distress, that I know could only have come through the Holy Spirit working in my life.

When you are hit by life’s trials, please know that if you call upon Jesus to help you, he will be there for you. In the gospels you will find that Jesus was full of compassion and was constantly healing those who were sick. He cares about you and your needs. He hears your prayers. He knows your thoughts, worries, and fears. He alone can calm your spirit. It is very necessary that you surrender what is troubling you into the hands of Christ. If you cannot control the situation then you must give it to Christ, and trust him to take care of it. Remember this verse: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:13 NIV). Another verse I cling to when I am in the midst of trials is: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV). In my own life, I have seen good come from serious trials. If you trust God he can make it happen. “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 NIV).

Dear Lord,

I know trials will come, but I also know that you are with me during each trial and will give me the peace to get through it. I also know that you can bring about something good even in the worst situations. I trust you with my future and know you will never leave me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Do Not Worry: A devotion by Ann Broughton

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

Have you ever found yourself in a wave of anxiety? It can be a very scary feeling. Long term anxiety can make you very ill. I went on-line and checked out the WebMD site about worrying. If you are in a constant state of worry or anxiety it can cause serious health issues such as:

• Suppression of the immune system
• Digestive disorders
• Muscle tension
• Short-term memory loss
• Premature coronary artery disease
• Heart attack

So you see worrying and being anxious can be a life threatening thing. I do not know about you, but I have a tendency to worry. I worry about other people too. I take on their burdens and have a tendency to worry about their problems. I worry about things that might happen in the future also, which is totally out of my control. So I did a search for the word worry in the Bible. I wanted to see what Jesus had to say on the subject. Jesus gave great advice about how to deal with worry.  “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27 NIV). “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34 NIV). The whole section is well worth reading: Matthew 6:25-34.

As I pondered the worrying dilemma, I remembered listening to Jill Briscoe, a Christian speaker and author, speak of worry. She said that there are plenty of things to worry about, but she has dedicated a portion of her morning to praying about her worries and giving them to God. Then she did not think about it for the rest of the day. She trusted God to help her and those people she was worried about. It is a good idea, especially when we have no control in the situation. I am doing this now, and have greater peace of mind. You see when you surrender all of your worries to the Lord, He gives you peace to fill your heart instead of anxiety. This is a promise from Jesus. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV). Peace is wonderful when you are in a panic mode because of worry and stress. All you have to do is give your worries to God and ask for Him to fill you with His peace. I have felt this peace and can tell you that it is real, but you must surrender your anxieties to Him.

Dear Lord,

It is very easy to get all caught up in worrying and anxiety, some of which that are totally out of our control. We know that you do not want us to worry, so we surrender our anxiety to you. We trust you and know that you will give us strength and peace to carry on.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen